Tips for Finding a Job and Working With a Chronic Disease - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Tips for Finding a Job and Working With a Chronic Disease - Introvert Whisperer Tips for Finding a Job and Working With a Chronic Disease Many people and employers claim to understand the need for having a healthy balance between home and work. However, for the estimated 133 million Americans living with chronic conditions, a good work-life balance isn’t just a nice idea â€" it’s a required way of life. Without rest and time for treatments, those with chronic illnesses won’t be healthy at all. Combine this with natural introversion, and it may feel like there’s nothing in the world you can do to work comfortable and make a living. While staying home in bed where it feels safe sound like an appropriate plan of action some days, it doesn’t pay the bills. So, how do you find and keep a job that fits your unique needs as an introvert with the addition of a condition that’s here to stay? Here are the essentials you need you to know to find a job and beat burnout before it burns your career. Finding a Job With a Chronic Condition Landing a position that pays the bills, provides flexibility without the socializing, and gives you the sense of achievement you want can be challenging. It’s critical you remember that it’s not impossible. Search for Remote Positions Careers that didn’t have any remote positions 10 or 20 years ago now have many options. Even jobs that you might consider to be facility-based, such as nurses, physicians, or executives, are working from home at least a few days each week. While you might not always find a position that allows 100 percent remote time, those few days off a week will not only help recharge your social batteries, but offer you a break to treat chronic symptoms away from coworkers or clients. If you have a reliable computer and internet access, you’re likely set up well to meet the requirements of remote positions. Some companies may require you to have a secure office space if you’re working with sensitive data, but otherwise, finding a remote position is quite simple in our highly tech-driven work culture. Get Part-Time Work Introverts with chronic conditions often need income and benefits from a full-time position, making taking a part-time job a challenging decision. However, if you tend to miss many workdays, you might find yourself not meeting the job requirements expected of a full-time employee. In these situations, finding a flexible part-time job can be ideal. When possible, it’s sometimes better to take a pay cut when your physical and mental health are at risk, even if only temporarily. How to Interview When you’re sitting across from a prospective employer, you will probably wonder if you should disclose your chronic illness. There isn’t clear-cut guidance on this topic. If your disease is outward and visible, such as mobility issues due to multiple sclerosis, then it’s best to disclose the condition as the interviewer will likely be thinking about it during the interview. If your condition is controlled most of the time, you might decide that telling them upfront isn’t necessary. An example might be someone with asthma who rarely misses work or a person who struggles with restless leg syndrome symptoms only at night, leaving them feeling too tired to work some days. In these scenarios, it might be best to keep the information to yourself until you’re hired or the condition worsens to a point you need accommodations. Consider Freelance Opportunities It seems that many people are looking into freelance opportunities these days. Going solo can be nerve-wracking, but extremely rewarding, especially when you prefer to work alone. The benefit of working alone is that you get to make your own schedule, rest when you need to, and set your individual hourly rates. If you think that you don’t have any transferable skills into the freelance world, you might want to do a quick Google search for “your profession + freelance” to see if there are others out there working independently. You can send them a message and get more information about how they work, where they find clients, and what they charge. If you don’t see any opportunities this way, consider exploring how to be a consultant or coach or how to sell products for established companies. How to Work With a Chronic Condition On the surface, most people consider health to mean the absence of illness. If you have a long-term disease, you might never be completely without out sickness. This means that you must develop strategies to protect your health while performing office duties or while working in other workplace environments. Emphasize Self-Care Everyone needs self-care. However, for individuals with chronic conditions, self-care can be the difference between being able to function or being stuck in bed. Self-care strategies might include staying home when ill, practicing mindfulness, getting good sleep each night, and exercising when well enough. To better understand the need for self-care with chronic illness, let’s consider a condition that many people are familiar with: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Treating GERD with diet and lifestyle changes is imperative if you don’t want to experience burning or pain in your chest, difficulty swallowing, or a sensation of a lump in your throat. Now, think about how critical self-care is for individuals with cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, or heart disease. Without taking preventative measures, your condition will worsen. Prepare for the Expected and Unexpected Anytime you can prepare your workplace for time off or special accommodations you need, it’s best to give your employer as much notice as possible. If your condition causes you to miss days that aren’t scheduled off, try to work ahead. Keep a running list of tasks you’re working on in a highly visible place on your desk or on your hard drive so that you can quickly instruct a supervisor where to find this information if you’re off unexpectedly. You should talk to your supervisor about unexpected absences so that they have a game plan in mind to get the work done. Carefully monitoring your condition and committing to good preventative health habits are smart ideas for anticipating any potential complications. Thanks to technological advancements, individuals can use apps and wearable technology to track conditions like diabetes, ADHD, and Lyme disease while working. When used in conjunction with things like implantable drug devices, these can be powerful tools for managing chronic conditions. Some technology can even directly inform your medical provider with alerts, should your condition become critical. Know Your Rights Employees with chronic health issues have the right to flexibility, accommodations, feedback, and support. Your condition may also qualify you for extra protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA applies to all employers with 15 or more employees and requires them to give reasonable accommodations. Importance of Health Health is one of the most precious gifts you’ve been given. By using these tips, you can find a work environment that understands and appreciates your unique needs and provides accommodations so that you can perform your best while maintaining your overall well-being, both physically as someone with a chronic condition, and emotionally as an introvert. Good luck! Image Source: Pexels Author Bio: Frankie Wallace  is a writer from Boise, Idaho who contributes to a wide variety of blogs online. Wallace is a graduate from the University of Montana and enjoys writing about career development and job searching. Go to top Do you know what your next career step is?  Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable. Get your copy now and start your action plan today! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer